DL Open Thread: Friday, October 25, 2024
Melissa Brayman For NCC President. Monique Johns’ behavior since she won a five-way primary has revealed who she is: A money-grubbing grifter and a narcissist. The best that we could hope for her in office is that she becomes a laughingstock. The worst? She and the County wind up with a bunch of lawsuits on their hands. It’s not like it hasn’t happened before. And Johns has all the same earmarks of utter incompetence as Karen Hartley-Nagle did. Wonder who Johns’ ‘behavior coach’ will be…
Melissa Brayman is, at the least, what’s the word I’m looking for…competent. Check out her bio for yourself. There’s no comparison with Johns’ sketchy and limited resume. Although Brayman has yet to come up with anything as bizarre or entertaining as The Johns’ “Love Doctors” podcast.
Monique Johns is the logical extension of ‘one-party rule’–a winner of a five-way primary who got nothing approaching a majority. Not even elected yet, and looking to steal county tax dollars for a party to celebrate–herself.
Unless you’re the type of Democrat who ‘roots for the laundry’ regardless of how soiled it is, voting for Melissa Brayman is the right thing to do.
Sculpture Of The Day:
MAGAt Rethugs Go After–Nuns. Nuns Fight Back:
A number of concerned persons in various states have alerted the Benedictine Sisters of Erie to a new post on X that claims 53 voters are registered at the monastery’s address and “NO ONE lives there.” The poster, Cliff Maloney of PA CHASE, claims “Our attorney’s [sic] are reviewing this right now. We will not let the Dems count on illegal votes.”
According to a March 2024 post from the Lincoln Institute, “The ‘PA Chase’ is an effort led by Citizens Alliance of Pennsylvania (CAP) to knock on 500,000 doors and raise the GOP mail-in ballot statewide total from 20% to 33%.” Cliff Maloney is listed as the CEO of Citizens Alliance.
The Benedictine Sisters take no issue with knocking on doors to increase citizen participation in elections. We do take issue with claiming false information as true in an effort to discredit differing views or affiliations.
“We want to call Cliff Maloney to account for his blatantly false post that accuses our sisters of fraud. We do live at Mount Saint Benedict Monastery and a simple web search would alert him to our active presence in a number of ministries in Erie. We also want to alert those who subscribe to X and other social media platforms to be vigilant and seek additional information before accepting these posts as truth,” said Sister Stephanie Schmidt, prioress. “A free republic depends on free and fair elections. It depends equally on a discerning and conscientious citizenry who do not unquestioningly accept the word of anyone who has a social media platform.”
Musk And Putin: Perfect Together. Lest you were wondering where Putin gets his talking points, and vise versa:
Russian President Vladimir Putin has held several discussions with Elon Musk over the past two years, during which he also requested a favor from the tech billionaire on behalf of Chinese leader Xi Jinping, according to a new Wall Street Journal report published Thursday.
Several current and former U.S., European and Russian officials cited by the Journal said the regular contact between the Russian leader and the tech billionaire started in late 2022 and covered “personal topics, business and geopolitical tensions.”
As part of their talks, Putin also asked Musk to not activate the Starlink service over Taiwan to appease Xi, a former Russian intelligence officer with knowledge of the request told the Journal. Russia has become close and increasingly dependent on China for trade and navigating sanctions placed on the country over its invasion of Ukraine. An official from the Chinese embassy in Washington told the outlet they had no comment on the topic.
Musk has so far not commented on the contents of the Journal’s report.
Musk’s reported discussions with Putin, a major U.S. adversary, raise potential national security concerns for the U.S. government as his company SpaceX is involved in several U.S. intelligence and military projects.
Musk has also taken an elevated role in former President Donald Trump’s 2024 campaign, donating millions to his own Trump super PAC and also headlining events promoting his White House bid.
Gee, having a tough time connecting the dots. Can you help?
A Pretty Decent Dive Into ‘The Delaware Way’. Which recognizes the Working Families Party as the force it’s become:
Another aspect of this is the rising presence of the Delaware General Assembly’s progressive wing – of which many were supported by the Working Families Party that, since 2018, has overhauled the makeup of the General Assembly.
The grassroots efforts of the Working Families Party have made waves in the legislature, as eight current members of the state House were supported by the group – including Rep. Madinah Wilson-Anton, D-Newark, the state’s first practicing Muslim legislator; Rep. Eric Morrison, D-Glasgow, the first openly gay man to serve in the legislature; and Rep. DeShanna Neal, D-Elsmere, the first nonbinary member of the General Assembly.
The Working Families Party also supported Sen. Marie Pinkney, D-Bear, who became the first openly gay woman elected to the General Assembly in 2020 after defeating then-Senate President Pro Tempore Dave McBride.
Similarly, Democrat Kamela Smith – a Working Families Party-backed candidate – upset Speaker of the House Valerie Longhurst, D-Bear, in the Sept. 10 primary election.
What do you want to talk about?
1) Monique gimme money Johns is completely unqualified for office. Anyone who has spent 2 minutes with her and asked her any serious policy questions gets this.
2) NCC Dems sent out an email regarding special elections for SD 1 and 5. Who are the names we are hearing?
Melissa Brayman certainly has my vote
Well, Accidental Former State Rep. Ray Seigfried announced his candidacy at our RD meeting a few weeks back. His two-year term was the result of his winning a five-way primary with nothing approaching a majority. Larry Lambert blew him away two years later.
Delaware Way denizen Seigfried’s best chance probably lies within the RD structure in the Brandywine Hundred race, but I think his appeal is justifiably limited even there.
It’s also possible that current State Rep. Larry Lambert will seek a promotion.
I have a couple of names who I’d like to see run, starting with 2021 Delaware Teacher Of The Year Kim Stock:
https://www.linkedin.com/in/kimberly-hee-stock
I have no idea as to whether she’d run, but it would be the second time I supported her, the first having been when she successfully ran for the Brandywine School Board against one of those right-wing ‘Christian’ folks.
Hate to tease you on SD 1, but I pretty much know who Sarah would like to see succeed her, know that some groundwork is being laid, and can’t think of anyone else I’d rather see run for that seat. Once I’m no longer sworn to secrecy and/or once somebody else reports it, I’ll be a veritable chatterbox.
I’ve heard there are two serious candidates interested in SD 1, with three other lesser-knowns who may be interested. Of the two serious candidates, I think I know who you’re talking about El. That person would be a humdinger of a member in the Senate and would do great work with leadership, Sturgeon, Pinkney, and the rest of the true progressives. The second serious candidate would not be a plus for the Senate, particularly on education issues.
The challenge we have is the process of these special caucuses. I know if my preferred candidate doesn’t get the nod in SD 1, I’ll be prepared to tell them to primary the victor in 2026.
I HAVE to think that Sarah’s preference would be honored.
I know that part of our 7th RD is in Sarah’s district, but I don’t know if I can vote for that candidate since I reside in the part of the 7th that is in Kyle Evans Gay’s district.
I was involved in one of these caucuses for a county council vacancy a while back. If Kyle is your senator, then you won’t be involved in the selection caucus. They basically break up all of the EDs that comprise the SD. Then they select — proportionally — people who live in those EDs in the SD to sit on the caucus. If I’m correct, those chosen must be members of the RD or city ward in which they live to represent on the special caucus.
I think I’ve got all that right, but I’m sure the party will be on top of it immediately following the election. Two senate seats is a big deal!
It is. We haven’t yet received the procedures, but, then again, there are General Election races to be won before we can consider the Specials.
I now think I know who the other ‘serious’ candidate is, as they have made their initial approach to our District Chair.
If so, we’re talking Delaware Way On Steroids.
Emphasis on ‘Way’. Amirite?
You’re “Way” correct. 😉
For those of you who are pissed off that we know something that you don’t know, here is my second, and final, clue:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JOSHirh0Qzk
Man, sure sounds like Steely Dan could have sued that guitar player for, what, artistic appropriation.
Reference your hint is the United Way similar to the Delaware Way? I know of at least two other candidates that have expressed interest Like you I am sworn to secrecy.
I will simply say this–if the ‘Delaware Way’ candidate is who I think they are, we’re looking at a pro-Charter Schools propagandist of the worst variety. Ran Charter Schools interference against reform during part of Markell’s term. I’ve already dug up some articles…hey, at least he’ll have Charlie Copeland to bankroll his campaign.
To emphasize a point you made further up El Som- we are encouraging RDs to continue to keep their eye on the prize–November 5. If we don’t elect Sen. McBride and Sen. Gay, it won’t matter how much prep we’re doing now.
But with that said, yes, both NCC and Wilm dems are laying a lot of the ground work (process) now, with State Party Support as needed.
Any registered Delaware Democrat who is interested in the process of candidate selection may email SpecialElectionsDelaware87@gmail.com and a copy of the memo can be sent. RD Chairs were encouraged to send the memo to their members as they saw fit (ie- I don’t expect my RD chair in the 21st to send it out to our committee, since we are not within SD 1 or SD 5).
I will tell you this: El Som you would only be eligible to vote in the candidate selection caucus for KEG’s replacement.
Eligible voters must be a member of the RD committee for 30 days and must live in the Senate District that the caucus is selecting a candidate for.
This is how it has worked for many of the past special elections in NCC and Wilmington and is how both NCC and State Party Rules lay out the endorsement (or recommendation of endorsement) for other candidates.
Again, any registered Delaware Democrat may request a copy of the memo.
I will also ask the state party to post it to their website under documents, and will try to get it up on the County Party’s fb page between now and next week.
And while I won’t divulge names here, there are well over 6 people who have expressed interest in the SD 1 seat. Far less in the SD 5 (at least right now).
Heard a great name for the SD 5 seat today–a GREAT name.
Hope they’re exploring the possibility…
Oops, did a deep dive into the SD 5 map today. Looks like my dream candidate lives just outside SD 5. Damn!
I’m hearing there is a long line for today the first day of early voting at the Hudson State Service Center in Newark.
I’m voting early as well–but not today–for that very reason. I’ll be at the Claymont Community Center soon enough.
But, YES, early voting started today.
Drove over to Claymont around 11. Good sized lines forming. My partner, who relies on a walker, didn’t want to stand outside. We’ll probably be back around dinner time, or during the Eagles’ game on Sunday.
Would welcome timing advice from experienced pollwatchers re light turnout hours
Hey Mediawatch!
I have an email in to the County DOE because I have two RD members (that have reached out, I’m sure they aren’t the only two) who have asked this same question.
Anecdotally from a candidate and the Del Dems Voter Protection Lead, by mid-afternoon next week things should be lighter. The EVC in Wilmington at the GOP HQ–oops I mean at the Shoprite Shopping Center (Christiana Crossing)– tends to be slower towards the end of early voting.
Although your idea of voting during the game is also probably spot on!
I spent the morning and part of the afternoon at each of the NCC EVCs… at least three of them had lines that were 2-3 hours long and getting longer. The other three were also starting to build more people.
I’ve heard the line was 3 hours in Middletown this afternoon. I haven’t decided if I’m holding out until Election Day or not, especially since our polling place is so convenient.
Regarding another election, the Washington Post will not endorse either presidential candidate. As somebody said, democracy dies in cowardice.
Exactly. WEHT ‘Democracy Dies In Darkness’?
Not to take anything from Sen. Pinkney, but Sen. Peterson is an openly gay woman who was elected to the General Assembly. I am not sure if she was the first, but she is the first that I remember,
Oh you’re right. I knew that WE hadn’t written that, but it indeed was an error in the original story from Bay To Bay. Just caught it.
Not to mention, DeShanna Neal wasn’t the first non-binary member of the General Assembly either…
The way I’ve seen it reported in the past is that Sen. Pinkney was the first openly gay State Senator. Senator Peterson came out after she had been office.
It’s a small distinction, but an important one.
For a long time I thought Kyle Evans was the first.
She DID have shirts printed up for her first campaign reading ‘Vote Gay’.
She’s great.
I’m sure someone will come along and let us know she eats cats and dogs or whatever, but she does seem to have a sunny disposition.
Got to volunteer starting with her first campaign, which was a primary for the right to challenge incumbent Cathy Cloutier. Pretty sure I campaigned with her in Graylyn Crest the day before Covid shut down door-to-door campaigning.
I hope and think she will be Governor some day.
She’s become such a strong candidate that she no longer really needs my help. But she has it if/when she needs it.
Yeah, Kyle blew it with the ethics watchdogs Flaherty and Wasileski at DelCOG by trying to ram through amendments to open government and FOIA that were totally unacceptable.
I was told that even as she met and heard their concerns, she proceeded to take the line of corporate interests over the citizens voice on this.
So, what the real f with that? I was sick and didn’t follow in real time, pretty sure she was shut down in the end. Not at all okay though to throw the power to business and government convenience vs citizens right to know.
As noted, all this is in my brain second hand. Should be in the Google somewhere.
Nancy- that tracks with the tons of out of state and corporate monies that poured into Kyle’s campaign in the primary and since… I was wondering why so many people were trying to buy her influence or what they might want or look for favor regarding…. Especially the large number of individual liquor stores and liquor store owners as well as insurance companies
Who was the first non-binary member?
I guess the Post doesn’t want to be out of favor with an impending fascist regime. Should have been expected from a Bezos operation.
Love that part about ‘we’ll never endorse in future Presidential races’.
Never? As in never-ever? Someone seems pretty sure of himself…
Bezos is calculating to protect his huge web services federal contracts: If Wapo endorses Harris and Trump wins, he would very likely pull federal business from Amazon.
Right now, 45 mins to vote in Lewes. At Midway in Rehoboth, 90 mins wait time to vote.
Long line at Midway, between Lewes and Rehoboth, about an hour ago. A worker for Claire Snyder-Hall said the wait was an hour. I think it might have been longer.
Went back to Claymont just before 5. Asked a woman who had just voted about the wait, and all she said was “Looonngg.”
My wife was using her walker, was quickly spotted by an election worker who gave us a set on the bench outside the front door. After 5 minutes or so she asked a couple of folks to let us in line in front of them. Hail to the walker! It probably saved us an hour.